Box



Dec. 26, 1944. T. F. LIQND 2,365,887"

BOX

Filed Sept. 7, 1942 Patented Dec. 26, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT 4 OFFICE BOX Theodore F. Lind, St. PauL Minn. Application September 7, 1942, Serial No. 457,550 8 Claims. (01. 206-52) My invention relates to an improvement in box and deals more particularly with that type of box which may be used for carrying hats, or other articles of wearing apparelahd the like.

Most hat boxes which have previously been constructed have been provided with a handle of some type, by means of which the box could be readily carried. These handles were usually formed of metal or cord and were fastened to the box by a separate operation, thus considerably increasing the cost of the finished container.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of abox which may be used to carry hats and the like, and which is provided with a handle which is cut from the material forming the box. As a result the handle need not be separately added, thereby reducing the cost of the box without changing the appearance or leaving off any element which has previously been provided.

i A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a handle which is in the form of an elongated strap with an enlarged head on one end thereof. This strap is connected to the body of the container along a fold line across the end thereof opposite the head. By pushing the head of the strap into the interior of thecontainer, the strap may be bowed upwardly while the enlarged head engage beneath the portion of the container to either side of the strap. As a result an upwardly bowed handle is constructed from the material of which the container is formed.

A further feature of the present invention lies in th shape of the strap portion of the handle. This strap portion .is narrower near the center portion thereof than at the ends. The wider ends provide the necessary strength for holding the handle onto the container, while the narrow central portion provides a more convenient grip which will fit the hand more readily than if the strap were wider throughout its length. Furthermore, by narrowing the central portion f the strap handle the enlarged end of the'handle is prevented from sliding beyond a certain point in the aperture formed by cutting the strap.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a strap handle formed by cutting out a section of the top wall of the container and an overlying fla on the container designed to lie over this top container wall. The flap is provided with an aperture therethrough registered with the strap handle when the same is upwardly bowed. This handle extends through the apertue and the flap. The aperture in the flap is of such a length that the head of the strap handle can not become disengaged from beneath the container top wall. Tongues are provided extending into the aperture in the flap which prevents the ends of the strap handle from sliding together as the box is carried.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the particular manner in which the container is assembled. Side flaps are foldably connected to the top and bottom walls ofthe container and overlie the side walls of the container. A tongue defined by lines extending angularly from the edge of the side flaps is provided on each side flap to engage through a slot in the side wall. The formation of this angularly extending tongue to prevent accidental opening of the box is a feature of the present invention.

An additional feature of the present invention lies in the fact that the closing panel of the box, which forms the front wall of the box while the same is carried, is held in closed position by means of the container handle. As a result when the container handle is in use it is impossible for the box to open without tearing.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be moreclearly'and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawing forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my box in closed position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view tially open position.

Figure .3 is a perspective view sectionally through the top wall of the container showing the manner in which the strap handle is cut from the material forming the container top wall.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the top closure flap extending over the top container wall.

Figure 5 is a sectional view through a detailed of t e box in par- "Portion of the box.

ure 6 shows the box in died-out formation before folding. 7

With reference first to Figure 6 of the drawing, it will be noted that the top wall In of the box is connected along a fold line H to the rear box panel I2. This rear box panel I2 is connected along a fold line l3 to the bottom panel M. This bottom panel I4 is in turn connected along the fold line l5 to the front closure panel I6. This front closure panel I6 is connected along the fold line I! to the top closure panel l9. The top closure panel 19 is designed to overlie the top wall [0 in closed position of the box.

The top wall I0 is connected along the fold line to the side flap 2| and is also connected along the fold line 22 to the side flap 23. The rear panell2 is connected along the fold line 24 to the side wall 25 and is also connected along th fold line 26 to the side wall 21. The bottom panel I4 is connected along the fold line 29 to the side flap 30 and along the fold line 3i to the side flap 32. The front panel I6 is connected along the fold line 33 to the closure side flap-34 and along the foldline 3.5. to the closurevv side flap. 3.6..

The side flaps 2| and 23 are; provided with a pair of parallel slits 31 extending inwardl from an edge thereof to define a tongue 39 therebetween. The side flaps 30 and 32 are provided with a pair of parallel slits 40 extending inwardly from an edge thereof to define a tongue 44 therebetween. Slots 42 are provided in the side walls 25 and 21 to receive the tongue 39 while slots 43; are provided in the side walls 25 and 21 toreceive the tongue 4|. In the assembly of the box the tongues 39 and 4| are.v inserted in the slots 42 and 4.3. It will be noted that the angular slots slope from the edge of the flaps toward the center of the sidewalls so that he tongue, when once engaged, can not readily become disengaged from the sidewalls 25 and 21.

In certain constructions it is desirable toform the tongues 4| at a. greater distance fromv the fold lines 2.9 and 3i, and. to formthe. tongues 39. at, a greater distance from the. fold lines 29: and 22.. This may be accomplished by forming the tongues 39 and M betweenasingle slot 31 or 40. and h fr end o he flap in which it is formed. The same locking result is attained in this construction.

The side flaps 21,, 2.3., 3.9, and 3.2 are'eacnprovided with a cut away corner 44 which exposes a portion of the side Walls 25. and 2.1 in folded position of; the box. An, angular-1y cut slot 45.

is cut in. each of the sidewalls Z5 and 21.. in. the.

exposed portion thereof. A locking tongue4fitof the shape illustrated is provided on; each of; the

closure side flaps 341 and. 381 and, these. tqng lest r s ned l-en a the or-respondin slot 45 with a, pivoting motiondue to the. mount.- in f he gu ste al with; the closure. L6,

as 'best illustrated in Figures 1. and; 5- of the drawing.

In the top box wall I9 I provide ;a handle-41 by means of which the box may be carried;about, This handle 41 is in the. formof an; elongated strap 49 having an enlarged head; 5,0; which is connected to the body.- of the strap 49 by. shoulders 5|. These shoulders 5-] aredesigned to en age. beneath the top wall In when the handle is bowed. upwardly, as illustratedin Figures 1, 3, and. 4. of the drawing. Therefore, by, merely. forcing the head 50 downwardly and pulling. upwardly onthe strap portion 49 an upwardly bowed handle v isv provided which is secured to thetopwallg Ill along a fold line 52 at one end of the handle, and which issecured beneath the cover Ill by the shoulders 5| of the head50 at the other end thereof.

The sides of the handle strap '49 arepreferably inwardly bowedas illustrated inorder to. narrow the width of the strap handle intermediate its ends. convenient to hold in the hand without sacrificing strength at the endsof. the. handle strap and. also limits the slidable movement. of the handle with respectto the aperture 53, formed by cutting the handle from the top wall. 10;

The top closureflap I9, is providedwith a sub,-

stantially rectangular aperture 54. therein which,

is in registry with the handle.- 41 when the, top

This construction makes the handle more- 7.11;. said handle. from. drawing; together.

closure flap is folded down into overlying relation with the top wall l0. It will be noted in Figures 3, 4, and 6 of the drawing that the aperture 54 is not as long as the aperture 53 formed by cutting out the handle 41 so that the ends of the aperture 54 limit the outward sliding of the headed end of the handle 41. In other words, the headed end 50 of the-handle 41 can not slide outwardly in its aperture 53 until the head 50 is. disengaged. from beneath the top. wall III, while the top closure fl'ap I9 is: in place, because of the length of the aperture 54.

A pair of opposed ears or tongues 55 are foldably connected to the flap I9 along fold lines 56. These tongues 55 extend between the ends of the handle strap 49 when this strap is in upwardly bowed position, as illustrated in Figure 1, thereby preventing the headed end 59 of the handle 41 from sliding toward the foldably connected end and. by the tongue 5.5 so that the; handle 41; is.

always in readiness foruse.

It, will. be noted that in folded position oi the.

box, as illustrated in Figure 1, the closure it is held closed by engagement of the handle 41 through the aperture 54. It will also be noted that the side flaps. 2|, 23, 30, and. 32. are held in place to the side walls 25 and 21.- by angularly extending tongues which can not accidentally disengage from the slots 42. and 43. The box is not only attractive, and-useful, but maybe formed of a single piece of material, thehandle and the entire body being. formed of. this material.

In accordance, with the patent statutes, I have described the principles-of. construction andoperation of my box, and while I have. endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious, changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing. from. the spirit of my invention. 5

I. claim: v

1. A containerhavinga pair of overlying laminations of. material, an aperture in the upper lamination, astrap-handle cutfromthelower of said laminations leaving an aperture therein coinciding with theupper aperture, oneendof said strap handle beingintegrally connectedto saidlower lamination. along a fold line and having ahead at the other; end designed to engage beneath said lower laminationwhile said handle is'bowed upwardly therefrom out of: the plane of said lowerlamination extending through said upper aperture, the. said upper aperture beingof;

lower lamination along a fold; line; and having:

a. head. at the; other end designed to. engage-beneath. said lower lamination. when. saidhandle is bowed. upwardly therefrom. out of. the plane of.

said lower lamination extending through said upper aperture-,. the said upper aperture being? of a. length substantially. equal; to: the, distance between, the extremities of.- said. handle in; bowed position, and.- means. engaging said: handle. adia-- cent the. head, thereuponto preventithe; ends of.

' of said laminations leaving an aperture therein coinciding with the upper aperture, one end of said strap handle being integrally connected to said lower lamination along a fold line and having a head at the other end designed to engage beneath said lower lamination while said handle.

.is bowed upwardly therefrom out of the plane of said lower lamination extending through said upper aperture, the said upper aperture being of a length substantially equa1 to the distance between the extremities of said handle in bowed position, and means on said lower lamination engageable with the sides of said handle adjacent the head thereuponto hold the ends of said handle in spaced relationship.

4. A container having a pair of overlying laminations of material, an aperture in the upper lamination, a strap handle cut from the lower of said laminations leaving an aperture therein coinciding with the upper aperture,- one end of said strap handle being integrally connected to said lower lamination along a fold line and having a head at the other end designed to engage beneath said lower lamination while said handle is bowed upwardly therefrom out of the plane of said lower lamination extending through said upper aperture, the said upper aperture being ing held in spaced relation from the integrally connected end of said handle by the narrower portion of said aperture in said lower lamination.

6. A container having a pair of overlying laminations of material, an aperture in the upper lamination, a strap handle cut from the lower of a length substantially equal to the distance between the extremities of said handle in bowed position, and means on the upper of said laminations engageable with said handle adjacent the is bowed upwardly therefrom out of the plane of.

said lower lamination extending through said upper aperture, the said upper aperture being of a length substantially equal to the distance between the extremities of said handle in bowed position, said handle and the aperture in the lower lamination being narrower intermediate its ends than adjacent its ends, the wider portion of said handle adjacent said head end beof said laminations leaving an aperture therein coinciding with the upper aperture, one end of said strap handle being integrally connected to said lower lamination along a fold line and having a head at the other end designed to engage beneath said lower lamination while said handle is bowed upwardly therefrom out of the plane of said lower lamination extending through said upper aperture, the said upper aperture being of a length substantially equal to the distance between the extremities of said handle in bowed position, a wider portion in said handle end in said aperture in said lower lamination adjacent said head, a narrower portion on said handle and said aperture in said lower lamination adjacent said wider portion, said wider portion of said handle engaging against said narrower portion in said aperture in said lower lamination to hold the ends of said handle in spaced relationship.

7. A container having a, body panel of sheet material, a strap handle cut from said body panel leaving an aperture therein, one end of said strap handle being integrally connected to said body panel along a fold line and having a head at the other end designed to engage beneath said body panel while said handle is bowed upwardly therefrom out of the plane of said body panel extending through said aperture, and means engaging said handle near said head end thereof to hold the ends of said handle in spaced relation.

L8. A container having a body panel, a strap handle cut from said body panel leaving an aperture therein, one end of said strap handle being integrally connected to said body panel along a fold line and having -a head at the other end designed to engage beneath said body panel While said handle is bowed upwardly therefrom out of the plane of said body panel extending through said aperture, said handle and said aperture including a relatively wide portion adjacent said headland a narrower portion adjacent said wide portion, said wide portion of said handle engaging against said narrower portion of said aperture to hold the ends of said handle in spaced relationship.

THEODORE F. LIND. 

